Stamp and label affixer.



G. E. LAOEY. STAMP AND LABEL AFFIXER. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 0, 1900.

954,307,, Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Mill

' WITNESSES l/VVE/VTQR E59. /5 eo/yeilfawy BY v j/ M ATTORNEYS GEORGE EVE-BETTE LACEY, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN.

STAMP AND LABEL AFFIXER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Application filed. October 6, 1909. Serial No. 521,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnome E. LACEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Stamp and Label Ailixer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device to be used in aflixing stamps or labels to letters or articles of manufacture.

An object of this invention is to provide a device which will be simple in construction, easily operated, positive in its action, and strong and durable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which will automatically grip a label or stamp and dispose it in proper relation on the surface to which it is to be aflixed.

These and further objects, together with the construction and combination of parts, will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of my device; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view in elevation; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view in elevation, partly in section, showing the underlying structure, and with the parts disposed at the end of the affixing operation; Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section, showing the gripper in the action of gripping the stamp or label; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 5, showing the gripper after it has seized the stamp or label and is removed slightly from the moistener; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side View, partly in section, showing the means for opening the gripper.

Referring more particularly to the separate parts of the device, 1 indicates a handle, which may be of any suitable form and material, but preferably consists of wood. The handle 1 is provided at one end thereof with a metal ferrule 2. Secured to the handle 1 by any suitable means, such as a wood screw 3, there is provided a plate 4E, which extends preferably perpendicular to the handle 1 near its middle, and at an angle to the handle 1 near its end, as at 5 and 6.

Secured to the bent portion 6 of the plate 1 by any suitable means, such as a screw 7, there is provided a guide 8, which is in the form of a metallic plate bent on itself and provided with a slotted opening 9, through which the stamp or label 10 is adapted to be passed. Extending along the sides of the guide 8, and preferably formed integral with the plate l, there are provided a pair of flanges 11, which have suitable perforations therein. Extending through the perforations in the flanges 11, there are provided a pair of screws 12, which form pivots for a moistener-container 13, which is in the form of a receptacle. The container 13 is adapted to hold therein any suitable absorbent material 14, such as cotton batting, and is so constructed that it will overlie the opening 9 in the guide 8 and cause the absorbent material 1 1 to project above said opening. The container 13 and the absorbent material therein are normally held yieldingly over the opening 9 in the guide 8 by means of a U-shaped spring 15, which is secured to the screws 12 and the container 13.

There is provided on the side of the ferrule 2 a lug 16, to which is pivotally secured by any suitable means, such as a screw 17 an arcuate lever 18, which is formed of two parallel members. Secured between the members of the lever 18 by any suitable means, such as a screw 19, there is provided a finger-rest 20, by means of which the lever 18 is operated. Pivotally secured to the opposite end of the lever 18 by any suitable means, such as a screw 21, there is provided a bracket 22. The lever 18 is adapted to reciprocate the bracket 22 over the face of the plate 1. In order to keep the bracket 22 in engagement with the plate, there is provided a pair of screw pins 23, which ongage the under side of the edges of the plate 1.

Extending between the sides of the bracket 22, there is provided a pivot pin 24, on which are pivotally secured gripping jaws 25 and 2(3 of a gripper 27. The gripping jaws 25 and 26 are normally pressed against the plate 4, and are thus closed by means of a spring 27, which is secured to the bracket 22 in any well known manner, as by means of screws 28, and engages the upper side of the gripping jaw This gripper 27 is for the purpose of seizing the stamp or label 10 which has been inserted through the guide 8 and drawing it across underneath the absorbent material let to a position below the middle of the plate 4, whereit can be aflixed to a suitable surface.

In order to open the gripping jaws 25 and 26 so that they will be in a position to receive the stamp or label 10 when it is inserted through the opening 9 in the guide 8, there are provided at each end of the gripping jaw 26, as is more clearly illus trated in Fig. 7, slightly beveled recesses 25), which are adapted to be engaged by wedges 80, formed by double edges on the guide 8, which border on the slot 9.

The upper jaw 25 overlies the recesses 29, so that when the wedges 30 enter therein, the jaws and 26 are pried apart, leaving an opening in alinement with the opening 9 in the guide 8 Extending from the bracket 22, on each side thereof, there are provided perforated flanges 31, in the perforations of which is secured a shaft 32, on which is rotatably secured a roller The roller 33 may be provided with a suitable absorbent material, such as blotting paper 3%, preferably wound thereon in a spiral manner. The roller 33 serves as a fulcrum, and also serves to smooth out the stamp and absorb any excessive moisture at theedges thereof.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the above description.

The absorbent material 14 is supplied with moisture by any suitable means, such as a dropper. In order to .aiiix a stamp or label, the handle 1 is grasped in one hand, and the stamp properly inserted through the opening 9 in the guide 8 with the other hand. The finger-rest 20 is then forced clownwardly by means of the middle finger, thus advancing the bracket and the gripper 27 across the face of the plate t, until it comes to a position opposite the opening 9 in the guide 8. W hen this position is reached, further movement of the gripper 27 will cause the wedges 30 to force the jaws and 26 apart, permitting the stamp to be inserted between them. The device is then rested on the surface to which the stamp or label is to be applied and submitted to a gentle forward pressure, which will cause the lever 18 and the bracket 22 to rise into the position illustrated in Fig. 3, drawing the stamp or label across the moistened absorbent material 1% to a position beneath the center of theplate i, where the under side of the stamp or label will adhere to the surface and cause it to slip out of the clutches of the gripper 27. The roller 33 may then be rolled over the stamp or label, causing it to adhere firmly to. the surface to which it is applied, and at the same time absorb any excessive moisture exuding from the side edges.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an aflixer, the combination with a handle, of a lever pivoted to said handle, a gripper connected to said lever, a guide connected to said handle, and means on said guide for opening said gripper.

2. In an aflixer, the combination with a iandle, of a gripper pivotally connectedto said handle, said gripper comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, a guide having a slot therein, connected to said handle, and means on said guide for opening the jaws of said gripper.

3. In an aflixer, the combination with a support, of a gripper connected to said support and comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, and a guide having a slot therein, connected to said support, said guide having wedges thereon adapted to engage between the jaws of said gripper to open said jaws in alinement with the slot in said guide. 1

i. in an aflixer, the combination with a support, of a gripper connected to said support, said gripper comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, a spring for normally holding said jaws closed, a guide having a slot therein, connected to said support and having wedges thereon on each side of said slot, said wedges being adapted to engage between said jaws on said gripper to force them apart against the tension of said spring, and means for operating said gripper.

5. In an aflixer, the combination with a support, of a plate connected to said support a guide connected to said plate, a container pivotally connected to said plate, a moist absorbent material in said container adapted to overlie said guide, and means for drawing a stamp in front of said absorbent material.

6. In an affixer, the combination with a support, of a plate secured to said support, a guide secured to said plate, a receptacle pivotally connected to said plate, a moist absorbent material in said receptacle, means for yieldingly holding said receptacle in coaction with said guide, and means for drawing an article through said guide in front of said moist material.

7. In an afiixer, the combination with a support, of a plate secured to said support, a guide connected to said plate, a receptacle pivotally connected to said plate, ,a moist absorbent material in said receptacle, a spring engaging said receptacle and adapted to hold said absorbent material in coaction with said guide, and a gripper adapted to seize an article in said guide and draw said article across saidmoist material.

8. In an aifixer, the combination with a support, of a plate secured to said support, a guide, having a slot therein, connected to said plate, a container pivotally connected to said plate, a moist absorbent material in said container, a spring adapted to engage said container to hold said absorbent material adjacent said opening in said guide, and a gripper adapted to seize an article in said guide and draw it through said opening in said guide across said absorbent material.

9. In an aifixer, the combination with a handle, of a plate connected to said handle, a guide, having an opening therein, connected to said plate, a receptacle pivotally connected to said plate, a moist absorbent material in said receptacle, a spring adapted to engage said receptacle'and normally force said absorbent material in coaction with said opening in said guide, a lever connected to said handle, a bracket pivotally connected to said lever and adapted to slidingly engage said plate, and a pair of pivoted jaws connected to said bracket and adapted to seize an article inserted through said opening in said guide.

10. In an aifixer, the combination with a handle, of a plate secured to said handle, a guide, having a slot therein and having wedges formed thereon, a receptacle pivotally connected to said plate, a moist absorb- A ent material in said receptacle, a spring adapted to engage said receptacle and also adapted to force said absorbent material in coaction with said slot in said guide, a lever pivotally connected to said handle, a fingerrest on said lever, a bracket pivotally connected to said lever and adapted to slidingly engage said plate, a pair of jaws pivoted to said lever, a spring for normally holding said jaws closed one of said jaws having recesses therein adapted to be engaged by said wedges on said guide, whereby said jaws are forced apart, and a roller on said bracket.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE EVERETTE LACEY.

\Vitnesses:

ED IN I-I. PORTER, G. A. WVHITAKER. 

